Rule 2.1 Giving Precedence to the Duties of Judicial Office

A judge's job as a judge comes first. When someone becomes a judge, their court duties have to take priority over other things they might want to do, like hobbies, side projects, volunteer work, or personal business.

This means a judge cannot let outside activities get in the way of doing their job well. If a judge is spending so much time on other pursuits that it affects their ability to handle cases properly, be in court on time, or make timely decisions, that's a problem under this rule.

The idea behind this rule is simple. People count on judges to show up, pay attention, and handle cases the right way. Personal interests are fine, but they cannot come before the responsibility of serving as a judge.